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ptilinum
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ptilinum

insect anatomy
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Quick Summary

The ptilinum is a vesicular organ found on the front of a fly's head. This organ assists the fly in breaking through its pupal case during emergence. Shortly after the fly emerges, the ptilinum shrinks and is no longer visible. This structure is characteristic of the suborder Brachycera-Cyclorrhapha, which includes many common fly families.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. ptilinum
  2. Diptera - Annotated classification

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